The Spill: The Star-Spangled Mavericks

Star-Spangled Banner in Sports

The national anthem has been protested in sports for a long time, and now it’s back in the news. Mark Cuban, the owner of the Dallas Mavericks, recently told the media that he had told his team to stop playing the National Anthem at all home basketball games. A lot of people were happy to hear it, but a lot of others weren’t. Some people supported Cuban’s decision.

Others, like Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick called for Cuban to “sell the franchise” so some Texas patriots could buy it. After just one day of controversy, the NBA released a statement saying the anthem was mandatory.

Cuban then claimed he didn’t cancel the anthem and that he wanted to start a conversation. Is the playing of the National Anthem going to be controversial at every professional sporting event?

Historic Second Impeachment Acquittal for President Trump

Two impeachments and zero convictions mark the one term of President Donald Trump. The former president was brought up on impeachment articles by the U.S. House of Representatives for inciting violence and insurrection on January 6. On Saturday, February 13, the U.S. Senate voted to acquit Trump of charges.

The case against Trump appeared to be one of anger, opinion, and dislike instead of facts to find guilt. All 50 Democrats cast their ballots against Trump, but only seven Republicans did. In the end, there were not enough votes to convict him.

Mr. Trump issued a statement from Mar-a-Lago thanking his legal team and supporters:

“I always have, and always will, be a champion for the unwavering rule of law, the heroes of law enforcement, and the right of Americans to peacefully and honorably debate the issues of the day without malice and without hate.”

Democrats have expressed they are happy to have this behind them and hope to move on peacefully. The American voters, however, remain deeply divided.

The Most Adorable Reptile EVER

Lizards aren’t usually considered cute and cuddly, but that has all changed with discovering the male Brookesia nana – or nano-chameleon – who is the same size as a seed.

According to the Bavarian State Collection of Zoology in Munich, these tiny lizards are the smallest of about 11,500 known reptiles. One might ask: How on earth do these cute little guys survive? They eat tiny mites that the human eye would need a microscope to see and hide in blades of grass to avoid predators.

The little creatures were discovered in Madagascar in an area in a degraded montane rainforest. The limited terrain the lizards live in worries researchers that the Brookesia nana might be vulnerable to extinction. But one scientist at the Center of Natural History in Hamburg, Oliver Hawlitschek, assures: “The nano-chameleon’s habitat has unfortunately been subject to deforestation, but the area was placed under protection recently, so the species will survive.”

For now, the little dudes remain the smallest reptiles around. With extra environmental protections, perhaps they won’t just survive, but thrive.